THE AMPERSAND Carrie Hobson is a founding partner of Hobson Leavy Limited, a retained executive search firm based in Auckland, New Zealand. She co-founded Hobson Leavy over 13 years ago, with a focus on executive level appointments at the highest level across all sectors in New Zealand ranging from start-ups to mature multinationals in both the corporate and not-for- profit sectors. Hobson Leavy is a firm that believes leaders matter and since 2008 Carrie and the team have worked with hundreds of boards and leadership teams to find the best talent and help lift the bar for these New Zealand companies.
Carrie has over 25 years corporate experience, initially in banking and finance and laterally in executive search. She has held senior positions in corporate banking with major banks in both New Zealand and the United States and has worked with top level executives optimising financial performance and implementing company strategy. She has held directorships in both private and public sectors with particular experience in finance, health and human resources. Carrie has an Honours Degree in Economics from the University of Otago, is an approved certified finance and investment professional and a Member of the Institute of Directors and Global Women. Carrie has also completed the Advance Course in Executive Search from Cornell University in New York.
Throughout her career Carrie has worked really closely with not-for-profit organisations at a strategic level and was previously Chief Executive of the St Joseph’s Mercy Hospice Foundation, a charity very close to her heart. She was a member of the National Heart Foundation Leadership Team that campaigned successfully to raise $5million to establish the Chair in Heart Health at the University of Auckland. The Chair was successfully launched in 2011 with the appointment of the first Professor in Heart Health. Carrie is currently a Member of the Fundraising Committee of the Ballet Foundation of New Zealand and has been deeply involved with supporting the establishment of the Unicorn Foundation, a foundation established to provide support and treatment for neuroendocrine cancer patients, campaigning strongly in order to secure support for those who cannot receive the treatment in New Zealand. She has been involved with this charity since 2010 and has cycled the length of New Zealand in order to raise funds for a Gatate scanner, the first of its kind in New Zealand allowing a significant step change in diagnosis of these tumours.
Carrie currently serves on the Board of the King’s College Foundation, where her three children have attended, and is deeply supportive of the college as it embraces the whole student in their pursuit to be the best that they can be academically, on the sports field and in cultural activities, but also with a strong understanding of the community in which they live. It helps them to develop critical thinking and intellectual independence whilst also nurturing their personal wellbeing.
This year Carrie has also worked closely with the Auckland City Mission, supporting them in their Board appointments and Hobson Leavy was engaged to appoint the new CEO. She has just completed a 12km run in order to raise funds for the City Mission. Carrie currently serves on the Council of her Alumni University, Otago University, the oldest university in New Zealand founded 150 years ago. She also serves on their Foundation. Carrie is a fifth generation Kiwi and is proud of her heritage, in particular Ngāi Tahu.
Carrie is very proud of Hobson Leavy and the significant work that it does in the New Zealand market, assisting organisations in finding the best leaders. She is most proud of her three children.
